The Mumbai Port Trust

The Mumbai Port Trust (MPT) was created in 1873, a year after the
Bombay Municipal Corporation was reconstituted.
The MPT was responsible for reclamations and constructions in the harbour
area of Mumbai.

Large tracts of land were already reclaimed in this area by the
Elphinstone Land and
Press Company, which went into liquidation during the
depression following the end of the American Civil War, when land
prices in Mumbai crashed. In 1869 the government acquired this land
for 2 million pounds, and gave it for development to the MPT in
June 1873.

In 1880 the Trust inaugurated the Prices' Docks along with warehouses
and storage sheds; in 1888 it completed the Victoria Docks, and two
years later the Merewether Dry Docks. These works, completed at a time
when investments were not forthcoming, cause the MPT to run into losses.

Business picked up again towards the beginning of the 20th century, and
the MPT started on an immense project of reclamations all along the
harbour from Sewri to Apollo Bunder. With these works, the Trust
eventually created 1880 acres of land. At present the MPT is the single
largest holder of property in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region.

Among its present projects is the high-profile
Emerald Project, aimed at environmental upgradation along the
port area of Mumbai. Under this project it has recently created the
Sewri Mangrove Park.